Hunters & Businesses Oppose Proposed Knife Ban

COLUMBUS, Ohio—The Obama administration is proposing what it calls a “rule change” for Customs and Border Protection.  The Switchblade Act of 1958 already bans certain knives in the US.  The new proposal would expand the definition of switchblade to include all spring-assisted knives and knives that can be opened with one hand.  Critics say the new rule could make many everyday knives illegal.

The rule would ban the importation of any folding knife that can be opened with one hand. Right now, the rule applies to switchblades that have a button in the handle that triggers a spring-loaded blade. The proposal would also apply to knives with thumb holes, thumb studs or levers that let you unfold the knife with one hand as well as knives that have springs to help move the blade.

Mike Kent, the owner of River’s Edge Cutlery in Hilliard, says common utility knives and box cutters would fall into the new, banned category.

“Most of the knives that are going to be outlawed are going to be ones that people to work as their profession,“ he says.  “This is a one-handed opening utility knife,“ he says, displaying a common knife.“
A lot of people are going to be lost without this.  Especially warehouse workers and the like.“

He says if one-handed knives became illegal, it would eliminate a huge portion of his retail sales.

“I’d say 95 percent of our pocket knife sales are one-handed opening because that’s what people want for the convenience.“

Critics of the proposed rule contend that the new switchblade definition could be used to reinterpret laws all over the country and make many knives illegal. That could affect scouts, hunters and even hobbyists. 

U.S. Rep. Bob Latta (R-Ohio) says it could even have an effect on law enforcement agancies and first responders. 

“It is unacceptable to think that we as citizens cannot carry a pocketknife for work or recreation purposes,“ Latta said Wednesday morning from Washington, DC.

Tuesday evening, Latta and Rep. Walt Minnick (D-Idaho) introduced an amendment that would strip the funding to enforce the new rule.  It was not made in order by the Rules Committee and will have to be considered at a later time.

Latta also sent a letter to Department of Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano asking her not to move forward with the rule change. “This classification could render millions of law-abiding knife owners in violation of the law and expose major market retailers, manufacturers, dealers and importers subject to possible federal felony charges,“ his letter said.

The rule change is actively being opposed by the National Rifle Association, knife industry associations, and some law enforcement groups.

The American Knife and Tool Institute posted a YouTube video about its opposition to the proposal.

The comment period for the proposed change ended on Monday. The agency has 30 days to decide whether to implement it. 

Proposal language: http://www.nraila.org/pdfs/CBPkniferuling.pdf
American Knife and Tool Institute: http://www.akti.org/
Knife Rights, Inc.: http://www.kniferights.org
AKTI You Tube Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5KINtCajwI
Rep. Bob Latta’s Blog Entry on Napolitano Letter: http://latta.house.gov/blog/?postid=133588
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